Karate Kid director Avildsen dies aged 81

John G. Avildsen, the Oscar-winning director of 
Rocky and The Karate Kid, has died at the age of 81.

Avildsen's son Anthony told US media the filmmaker had
 died of pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
in Los Angeles.

Rocky - starring Sylvester Stallone as a rags-to-riches 
boxer - became the highest grossing film of 1976, despite having a relatively low budget.

It won an Oscar for best picture, as well one for Avildsen 
as director.

Stallone, who wrote the film, led the tributes to its 
director, posting on Instagram: "R. I. P. I'm sure you will 
soon be directing Hits in Heaven- Thank you , Sly."

Avildsen directed the box-office winner The Karate Kid, released in 1984, as well as The Karate Kid Part II in 1986 
and The Karate Kid Part III in 1989.

He also guided Jack Lemmon to his only best actor 
Oscar for his role in the 1973 film Save the Tiger.

"Throughout the decades, his rousing portrayals of 
victory, courage and emotion captured the hearts of generations of Americans," Paris Barclay, president 
of the Directors Guild of America, said in a statement.